Competitive Information for Politoed [Sword/Shield]
Water
Abilities:
Note: Pokemon with the Water Absorb ability are immune to Water attacks.
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Politoed? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Politoed is a marvelous Water-typed Pokemon. It's a frequent sight to see Politoed out in the 8th generation battlefield. Politoed's only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass.
Item: Sitrus Berry / Wiki Berry
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Scald / Muddy Water
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Helping Hand
- Protect
Physical Wall Politoed (Popular/Trending)
Politoed is a remarkable Physical Wall for single battles. It's primary goal is to take a great amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. The Sitrus Berry will restore 1/4th of Politoed's max HP when it reaches below half health and gets consumed. Drizzle changes the weather to Rain when Politoed is sent out onto the field. This help boosts all water attacks while the Rain remains active. With a Wiki Berry equipped to it, restores 33% max hp at 1/4 max hp or less; confuses if -spa nature then the Wiki Berry gets consumed.
◆ Muddy Water is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (30% chance to lower the foes accuracy by 1 stage).
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Helping Hand is a status move (one adjacent ally's move power is 1.5x this turn).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Politoed this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10aba
Item: Damp Rock / Shell Bell
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Liquidation / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Ice Punch
Physical Sweeper Politoed (Drizzle)
Politoed is a pretty decent Physical Sweeper for single battles. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. The Shell Bell item option is to help Politoed recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. Drizzle changes the weather to Rain when Politoed is sent out onto the field. This help boosts all water attacks while the Rain remains active. Equipping Damp Rock helps extend rainy weather effects this Pokemon creates from 5 turns to 8 instead.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
◆ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11aba
Item: Damp Rock / Life Orb
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Weather Ball / Surf
- Ice Beam / Hyper Voice
- Psychic
- Earth Power / Mud Shot
Special Sweeper Politoed (Drizzle)
Politoed is a marvelous Special Sweeper for single battles. It tries to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Politoed's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Drizzle changes the weather to Rain when Politoed is sent out onto the field. This help boosts all water attacks while the Rain remains active. Equipping Damp Rock helps extend rainy weather effects this Pokemon creates from 5 turns to 8 instead. Ice Beam was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Earth Power is a special 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Mud Shot is a special 55-base power Ground-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is12aba
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spe)
EVs: 5 Hp / 252 Def / 252 SpA
Moveset:
- Scald
- Focus Blast
- Ice Beam
- Surf
Politoed Special Tank (Atrocities And Scars)
Politoed is a fabulous Special Tank for single battles. It's primary goal is to take a hefty amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. Life Orb boosts the power of Politoed's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Drizzle changes the weather to Rain when Politoed is sent out onto the field. This help boosts all water attacks while the Rain remains active.
◆ Focus Blast is a special 120-base power Fighting-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is13aba
Item: Power Lens
Ability: Damp
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 213 Hp / 246 Atk / 51 SpD
Moveset:
- Encore
- Belly Drum
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch
Politoed Physical Tank (A Different Politoed)
Politoed is a decent Physical Tank for single battles. It's primary goal is to take a nice amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. With Damp, prevents explosion/mind blown/misty explosion/self-destruct/aftermath while active. With a Power Lens equipped to it, Politoed's speed is halved. The klutz ability does not ignore this effect.
◆ Belly Drum is a status move (Politoed loses 50% max hp; This also maximizes Politoed's attack stat).
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is14aba
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Politoed? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Damp Rock / Life Orb
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Liquidation / Waterfall
- Ice Punch / Double-Edge
- Brick Break / Seismic Toss
Doubles Physical Sweeper Politoed (Drizzle)
Politoed is a remarkable Physical Sweeper for double battles. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Politoed's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Drizzle changes the weather to Rain when Politoed is sent out onto the field. This help boosts all water attacks while the Rain remains active. Equipping Damp Rock helps extend rainy weather effects this Pokemon creates from 5 turns to 8 instead. Ice Punch was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
◆ Liquidation is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Water-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Seismic Toss is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (does damage equal to your Politoed's level).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10aba
Item: Damp Rock / Throat Spray
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Weather Ball
- Hyper Voice / Hyper Beam
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Psychic
Doubles Special Sweeper Politoed (Drizzle)
Politoed is an awesome Special Sweeper for double battles. It's meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Hyper Voice) and boosts Politoed's special attack stat by 2 stages. Drizzle changes the weather to Rain when Politoed is sent out onto the field. This help boosts all water attacks while the Rain remains active. Equipping Damp Rock helps extend rainy weather effects this Pokemon creates from 5 turns to 8 instead.
◆ Weather Ball is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (power doubles and type varies in each weather).
◆ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Politoed cannot move next turn).
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11aba
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Politoed learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Politoed can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Politoed
- Moves: Swagger + Screech
- Moves: Belly drum + Rest
- Moves: Endure + Endeavor
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Perish song + Protect
- Moves: Whirlpool + Perish song
- Ability: Drizzle + Item: Damp rock
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- OHKO Combo - Moves: Mind Reader + Fissure
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Dynamic Punch
- Moves with Priority: Detect, Endure, Protect, Helping Hand
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic, Hypnosis, Scald
Moves that boost Politoed's stats
- Amnesia
- Belly Drum
- Curse
- Defense Curl
- Power-Up Punch
- Skull Bash
Most notable and possible best moves for Politoed
- Earth Power
- Earthquake
- Haze
- Helping Hand
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Icy Wind
- Muddy Water
- Perish Song
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Politoed in Sword and Shield
- Bold Nature ( 252/0/252/0/4/0 )
- Calm Nature ( 252/0/28/28/156/44 )
- Optimize Politoed's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
Here are various how-to-use and competitive moveset analysis video guides for Politoed in Sword/Shield. These featured videos will most likely contain additional strategies and combos not listed on our site. Disclaimer: All videos belong to their respective owners along with the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the videos. They belong solely to the author and not to us.
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Here are the best movesets for Politoed. Top rated Politoed Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Politoed builds Sword/Shield. Politoed movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Politoed Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Politoed in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution